As the competition in global business education becomes increasingly fierce, how business schools can stand out from the crowd has become the focus of many students. Among them, triple-accredited business schools attract students and scholars from all over the world with their excellent educational quality and international reputation. Triple accreditation means that a business school is accredited by three international organizations at the same time, namely the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in the United States, the Association of MBAs (AMBA) in the United Kingdom, and EQUIS in Belgium. These three certifications are not only a symbol of quality, but also an important sign of school development and improvement of the education system.
According to data from April 2, 2024, only 129 business schools in the world have successfully obtained triple accreditation.
The three accreditation bodies have different assessment criteria. AMBA mainly assesses the quality of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program to ensure that the curriculum design, teaching and students' career development meet high standards. AACSB focuses on the operation of the entire business school, emphasizing strategic management, student success, thought leadership, and impact on society. Recently, AACSB placed a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion after its 2020 revision. EQUIS also focuses on the business school as a whole to ensure the overall quality of the school and its commitment to self-improvement.
While all three institutions operate worldwide, most business schools in the United States pursue only AACSB accreditation. This trend is related to the local American people's perception of AACSB, who generally believe that its accreditation is sufficient to represent the school's educational quality. The structure of American business schools often does not match the accreditation standards of AMBA or EQUIS. For example, AMBA requires MBA students to have at least three years of work experience, which is not common in American business schools.
As of April 2024, there are 129 business schools worldwide that have received triple accreditation. Triple-accredited schools can be found in locations ranging from Argentina in South America to China and India in Asia. Here are some noteworthy triple-accredited business schools:
It is worth mentioning that some schools once received triple accreditation but will no longer meet the relevant standards after 2024. These schools include: City University of Hong Kong, University of Huddersfield in the UK and ESCP Business School in France. This reminds us that while pursuing triple accreditation, we cannot neglect the continuous improvement of education quality and internal school management.
For students, choosing a triple-accredited business school means they will receive more rigorous educational standards and gain greater global recognition. This is not only reflected in the curriculum design and teaching quality, but also includes students' career development and employment prospects. Many triple-accredited business schools have established close partnerships with global companies, allowing students to receive support from various industries for internships and employment.
ConclusionTriple accredited business schools have established themselves as leaders in the international business education community through their unremitting efforts and commitment to educational excellence. However, continuous improvement and self-improvement will be essential for business schools of the future. After all, with the changes in education quality and corporate needs, how can we measure the true value of a business school?